Google OnHub router hands-on impressions
Let’s not pretend here, Google first introduced their OnHub router nearly a year ago. The early model was built by TP-Link and can now be had with colorful shells. The second version, which is what we have here today, is built by ASUS.
Designed to provide the best overall range, speeds and connectivity, the ASUS built OnHub Router has a balanced antenna arrangement. Its trick up its plastic sleeve is that it allows you to specify network priority for specific devices with just the wave of a hand.
ASUS Google OnHub – Amazon
Related reading:
- Google’s new ASUS OnHub router can be sped up with the wave of a hand
- Google On – OnHub companion app now available from the Play Store
- Google unveils OnHub: a $200 smart Wi-Fi router that’s controlled by an app
Overview
First things first, if you are reading this to help figure out if you should buy the TP-Link or the ASUS version of the OnHub Router, we’ll talk theory, but we do not have the TP-Link on hand for real life testing.
Designed to be out in the open, the OnHub router is one of the more aesthetically pleasing devices to look at. Both are plastic cylinders a few inches wide and double that tall. A controllable LED light casts a glow out the bottom of the router, with different colors indicating different connectivity situations.
With a focus on ease of use, setting up the OnHub router is a matter of plugging it in and connecting to it with the Google On Android app. Simply fire up the app and follow the step in the app. All of the confusing stuff happens in the background, you basically just provide a SSID and password for your network. Sadly, those looking for advanced configurations may be disappointed here, OnHub has a few advanced tools by default, and more is available via Developer Options, but it’s no DD-WRT… Not even close.
Google On – Google Play Store
Sorry, geeking out there a little. So, you set up your basic network, then you can setup a guest network, we’ll talk about this one later, it’s pretty handy. Finally, the last little item we expect many will use is the device priority.
The ASUS OnHub router includes gesture controls, swipe your hand above the unit to turn on device priority. Controlled in the Google On app, you may specify one device (at a time) that will receive prioritization on your network for 1, 2 or 4 hours, depending on your settings. They promote this for things like your Chromecast, giving it the focus while you stream your favorite movie, but I use it to help speed up photo uploads for these posts.
Hardware
Now we are getting into the goods stuff, or, at least we are about to discuss why the rather steep price tag of the OnHub router might be worth it for you. Let’s start off with sound. Although there is little audio feedback to your actions by default, the ASUS OnHub router hides a rather large internal speaker.
We are still looking for fun ways to utilize this speaker, but it is certainly loud enough to handle Google Now and Assistant voice responses. Ignoring the fact that this is a router, made for connecting you to the internet, it really could be a cool Google Home device. It does, after all, handle many home automation protocols, like zigbee, to control your connected home. But not today.
Allow me to be blunt, all of the above design and features are a novelty. They certainly do not add enough value to warrant the cost of the OnHub router, at least not for me. So, why did I buy one? In a word, antenna.
We’ve all seen the old WiFi routers with the adjustable antennas poking out the back, pointing in all directions in an attempt to provide the best coverage. Not only has the OnHub router hidden the antennas, all 13 of them, but they’ve deployed a familiar commercial grade router circular pattern to provide even coverage in all directions.
Twelve of those antenna provide your devices with a connection through several different WiFi frequencies, and the thirteenth is used to scan the local airwaves. Every five minutes your area is evaluated, and OnHub will adjust channel settings and more to provide you the best possible connection under the circumstance.
ASUS vs TP-Link
I want to keep this simple, aside from a few simple differences between the two, the reason I chose the ASUS OnHub instead of the TP-Link version is, again, antenna.
My understanding of the devices is as follows: The ASUS OnHub has antenna made of superior materials that should provide slightly better speed and distance on your network. But just barely. Second, the ASUS unit has that pretty much evenly placed circular layout of antenna, the TP-Link, on the other hand, provides more of a directional WiFi range.
Basically, as just one small way of comparing these two devices, if your router will live in a corner of the home, get the TP-Link unit so that you can focus the network into your home and not into your neighbors. Or, if you’re like me, the router lives in the middle of the house, providing a connection evenly to all four corners. Remember, it’s a theory more than anything.
Things I love about OnHub
Aside from the fact that I have difficulties with walls that block signals and similar such that the OnHub is handling like a champ, the fact that it automatically adjusts signal channel on a regular basis is important to me. I’m sure I’m not the only one with crowded airwaves, it’s marvelous not having to reset or even reconfigure the router to clean things up.
Next on my list, and this is hugely important, device connectivity limitations. My last router, a small WiFi ac unit, provided solid range and speeds, but by the time you connect five devices, it began to struggle. Connect ten devices and it would seriously drop the ball. I managed to connect 14 simultaneous devices, and it crashed. I mean, I don’t need to use a dozen tablets at one time, but I should be able to check my emails on one device while another controls my connected toaster, is that too much to ask?!?
I’m kidding, my toaster isn’t smart enough to evenly heat my bagel in the morning, I think WiFI would confuse it beyond reason. But, if it was a connected device, I am told I can connect over one hundred of them to my OnHub router.
I can’t help but stress test these sorts of things. I managed 15 simultaneous devices connected to the OnHub router. While my bandwidth was tapped out completely, I pushed a file over a local share just to see if the router was still responsive. It is my opinion that one minute forty five seconds to move a 1.4GB file over WiFi, between my Nexus 6P and Windows laptop, is acceptable on a busy router. I averaged about 5.5MB/s for several transfers under these conditions.
Finally, a feature in the guest network setup really appeals to me. Instead of having to mess with bouncing between networks to connect to things like Chromecast or a network share, you may easily create a tunnel to these devices for your guest network. Keep all of your private stuff where it belongs, then let your friends and family jump on the guest network and only give them access to certain devices. This may not be a new thing, but it is extremely simple to implement.
Reasons I question this purchase decision
How much router do you really need? A busy technology household, or a device reviewer like Josh, Lanh or the rest of our team, will have a multitude of devices kicking around at all times, are you one of them? Granted, I review tablets for our partner site, TabTimes, so I always have more than a few devices at hand myself, why can’t I get by with only connecting up to 5 at a time?
The truth is, I’m not likely to be using 5 or more devices at a given time, close, but still, I know I could make the old router work. Since it was already paid for, the new purchase took more than a few months to decide on.
Functionality is also of concern with the OnHub router. As I’ve mentioned, basic setup is extremely easy, advanced functions are few, but also easy. What if you want more, like the ability to change the DHCP range? Nope, sorry, out of luck. Until future functionality is added, in the basic sense of it all, the OnHub router is nothing more than a really simple router. A fantastic router, but the least user-configurable router I’ve ever seen.
Specifications
| Connectivity | WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac AC 1900 (up to 1900Mb/s) Bluetooth Smart ready 802.15.4 ready Weave ready |
| Frequencies | 2.4 GHz 5 GHz |
| Ports and connectors | 1 x Gigabit WAN port 1 x Gigabit LAN port 1 x USB 3.0 port |
| Antenna | Congestion sensing WiFI radio Smart high-performance WiFi antennas |
| Additional features | Speaker Ambient light Proximity sensor |
| CPU / GPU | 1.4GHz Dual-core CPU |
| Dimensions and weight | 7.9″ (247mm) x 5.0″ (128mm) x 5.2″ (132mm) 1.7 lbs (076 kg) |
Wrap-up
In the end, I am a huge fan of the ASUS OnHub router. I admit that I took a bit of a gamble that Google will automatically update my device with cool new features one day, knowing full well that a router for half the price can be had with the same basic WiFi network capabilities.
This leaves me in a place that I haven’t been before on this site. Usually I can say that I either recommend or not a product or service. I am at a loss on the ASUS OnHub. As far as routers go, you do not need this device, but as far as routers go, you need this device.
Stay tuned, we will be bringing you more coverage of the ASUS OnHub router, particularly, we will explore some of the extensibility, customization and smart hub capabilities of this device. If this thing has a feature that will change how you stay connected, we plan to find it.
If you are ready to purchase, you can grab either OnHub router from the Google Store for $199, or head on over to Amazon where you can usually find the ASUS OnHub for under $175
ASUS Google OnHub – Amazon
Any other OnHub owners out there have words of experience to share? Bottom line, do you think the OnHub router is worth the price?
What’s next?
Getting started with IF by IFTTT on Google OnHub – Android customization
Apple’s iMessage app could be coming to Android soon
Apple might have a surprise in store for Android users next week.
According to a report from MacDailyNews, which cited sources “familiar with the company’s thinking”, Apple plans to announce an iMessage app for Android at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. We can expect the app to be unveiled 13 June during Apple’s main keynote. Like iMessage for iOS, the new Android chat app would would give Android users the ability to exchange encrypted text messages.
Apple is apparently focused on introducing services to users beyond its own iOS and OS X platforms. Keep in mind Apple only offers three other Android apps at the moment: Apple Music (it’s music streaming service), Move to iOS (helps Android device owners transition to iPhone), and Beats Pill (a control hub for the Beats Pill speaker line it acquired). Now, with iMessage for Android, Apple is likely trying to trump Allo.
Allo is a recently-announced messaging app from Google. It will be available on both Android and iOS devices. It’s basically a combination of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger in that it integrates with your phone number and features a built-in Google assistant that serves up proactive suggestions. It also offers message bubbles you can resize, as well as emoji, stickers, smart replies, games, and end-to-end encryption.
Android users will likely flock to Allo, but with iMessage for Android being made available to them, they’d have another interesting option to choose from. It’s a simple and secure app that every iPhone user (and Mac user) enjoys. That being said, MacDailyNews hasn’t confirmed anything and isn’t known for leaking accurate information. So, today’s report could be nonsense.
The report’s source even said plans are constantly in flux ahead of keynotes and that the release might be delayed. However, iMessage will “definitely” come to Android sometime this year. Either way, Pocket-lint will be live at WWDC 2016 to bring you the latest breaking news.
The Wirecutter’s best deals: $50 off a Nest Security Cam
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
Ecobee3 Smarter Wi-Fi Thermostat 3 Sensor Bundle
Street Price: $320; MSRP: $320; Deal Price: $266
The second best price we’ve seen on this combo pack. There was a $250 Black Friday sale, but it’s never dropped that low since. This set tends to stay within a couple dollars of the street price, with one decent sale at $274 two months ago. Since we recommend this thermostat for people with larger homes, it makes sense to grab the bundle when it’s on sale rather than the individual unit.
The Ecobee3 Smarter Wi-Fi is our larger homes pick for the best smart thermostat. Jason Snell said, “For more sensors in large houses: The Ecobee3 isn’t as sleek or intuitive as the Nest but, unlike the Nest, it supports stand-alone remote sensors, so it can register the temperature in different parts of your house—a nice feature for people who need multiple sensor points in a large home. It also supports Apple’s HomeKit.”
Nest Cam Security Camera
Street Price: $200; MSRP: $200; Deal Price: $150
This matches a deal we saw earlier in the week from Target, and at the time, it was the first sale we’d seen that dropped below $170. Since the Target deal expired, this is another chance at a big discount on this security camera.
The Nest Cam is the top pick in our guide on the best wireless IP camera. Jason Snell said, “It offers a simple way to capture what’s going on in your home while you’re away and can alert you to unexpected sounds and movements. The Nest Cam provides a clear high-definition video stream with a field of view wide enough to encompass almost any room (larger than most competitors). Video is crisp and clear, with fine detail across a variety of lighting conditions; the Nest Cam performs as well or better than the other models we tested.”
Pebble Time Round Smartwatch
Street Price: $180; MSRP: $200; Deal Price: $150
This matches the best price we’ve seen on this watch, and it’s only the second time we’ve seen it drop this low. All colors can still be ordered at this price, as well as the 14mm size, though some of them are backordered and will ship once they’re in stock.
The Pebble Time Round is our budget pick for the best smartwatch for Android phones. Kevin Purdy said, “Most reviewers (Wired and CNET, to name two) found the Time Round to be the best watch that Pebble has made, but a bit pricey at its original price of $250. At its new $200 price, it has just enough smartwatch functionality, and good enough looks, to make it a worthwhile companion to your Android phone.”
Roku Streaming Stick
Street Price: $50 MSRP: $50 Deal Price: $39
This is the second sale we’ve seen on this streaming stick, and it slightly beats our previous low. Our last deal was for $40, so this doesn’t drop much below that, but it is still $20 less than the sale prices we sometimes see on the Roku 2.
The Roku Streaming Stick is our pick for the best media streamer. Chris Heinonen said, “The Roku Streaming Stick offers the widest selection of content, the best search, the best interface, and the best user experience. Unlike prior versions, the current Roku Streaming Stick offers all the speed and performance of the more expensive Roku 2, drops some extra features that many people probably don’t need, and adds other benefits.”
Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.
Uber’s delivery service just went mainstream
You probably know Uber as a company that takes you places. Soon, you may know it as the company that brings you pizza. And groceries. And laundry. And… well, everything. Today, Uber took its on-demand delivery service out of beta, opening the UberRush courier program to any company that wants it. The downside? The delivery program’s service area is still limited to just three cities: San Francisco, Chicago and New York.
Still, by opening the UberRush API to developers, Uber has taken the first step towards expanding its courier service. Companies can now add on-demand delivery services to their apps with just a few lines of code. Companies like Nordstrom and 1800flowers have been using the program since January, and Uber says more partnerships are on the way, including Dryv, a Chicago-based dry cleaning delivery service and Up Sonder — a company rents on-demand drones to aerial photographers.
If UberRush does well in its starting cities, it’s likely that the company will expand the program to other towns with active Uber drivers — which means we’re all one step closer to never having to leave home again.
Source: Uber
The Blocks modular smartwatch is finally (almost) ready
Years after the Blocks modular smartwatch first popped up on our radar, the company seems to finally be close to hitting assembly lines. The company has at least 5,500 orders from Kickstarter to fulfill, and if you’d like to add to that number you can pre-order the set for $330.
Blocks is already behind its projected May 2016 delivery date, so it’s probably heartening for backers to see some progress. The company said its Android-based “factory-ready devices” are currently undergoing final testing before hitting the mass production lines. The watches are now slated to ship in September.
At launch, you’ll have six modules to choose from: a GPS unit, an extra battery, a pulse sensor, a humidity/temperature/altitude sensor, a programmable button and a flashlight. Blocks says add-ons for body temperature, perspiration, fingerprint authentication and gesture control are in the works. Since the platform is open, third-party developers can make more parts as well.
Each Blocks purchase comes with a watch face unit, called a “Core,” along with four modules that form the strap; larger-wristed folks can go up to five links. If all goes well with testing, then, the days of having a super-powered smartwatch could come very soon.
Get the real ‘Fruit Ninja’ on the VR platform of your choice
This is Fruit Ninja. There are many like it, but this is Halfbrick Studios’. And while it’s been imitated over and over for regular apps as well as VR, there’s only one original. It’s headed for VR via the HTC Vive and several other platforms later this month.
Fruit Ninja VR doesn’t have an exact release date beyond that estimation, but its trailer reveals some very satisfying fruit-slicing action, where you’ll cut oranges, apples and watermelons to ribbons. There’ll be three modes to choose from, including Classic, Arcade and Zen, with unique twists on the original game’s challenges. There’s even a multiplayer mode planned for the future, which could make for some very interesting (and silly) interactions.
Halfbrick is planning on bringing the game to Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR and Google Daydream eventually, but for right now Vive fans should keep an eye out for the game to make its debut on the E3 show floor next week. It could very well become one of the platform’s most enjoyable diversions.
Via: UploadVR
Source: IGN
Jennifer Lawrence signs on for big screen Theranos adaptation
The story of blood-testing startup Theranos and its founder Elizabeth Holmes’ meteoric rise and fall from grace is already getting the Hollywood treatment. As Deadline Hollywood reports today, Jennifer Lawrence will play the part of Holmes, who at one point seemed to be one of Silicon Valley’s biggest success stories, worth about $4.5 billion for her 50% stake in the company. That all came crashing down once the Wall Street Journal started raising concerns that Theranos’ main product was unreliable and not actually approved by the FDA.
Theranos was worth an estimated $9 billion at the height of media fervor around the company, which has since been revised down to just a fraction of that as the company has begun voiding its own test results. Holmes herself initially defended her company’s processes, and at one point Theranos was trying to fend off harsh penalties that could have banned her from the blood testing industry entirely. After mining the 2008 financial crisis for some dark humor in his previous film The Big Short, Adam McKay is signed on to direct, so it’s safe to say there’s enough material there for a compelling storyline, especially one that feeds into Hollywood’s recent obsession with Silicon Valley.
A closer look at Lenovo’s bendy concept phone and tablet
We knew Lenovo’s Phab2 Pro and Motorola’s Moto Z series were breaking cover today, but the moment that drew the loudest gasps was when a YouTuber bent a phone around her wrist. Lenovo’s crazy, flexible devices are incredibly far from being real products, but we still had to track them down to get a closer look at what makes them work. After all, these aren’t Kyocera Echo-style, half-assed folding screens — the Folio tablet and the Cplus phone have display panels that actually contort when you bend their respective bodies.
Crafting gadgets that can handle these usage scenarios is tricky, though, but Lenovo has a sense of humor about it. When bending the Cplus to curve around someone’s wrist, the Android phone’s tall display “cracks” — actually just a software trick that distorts the screen. The Folio, on the other hand, was more straight-laced. Folding the tablet in half bends the screen around the outside of the chassis, effectively turning it into a big ol’ phone.
Sheer wow factor aside, the Folio didn’t actually do much; it’s likely the more-polished Cplus had a considerable headstart in development. Alas, Lenovo representatives barely let us touch them. As CTO Peter Hortensius said, “These are not things that will survive in the wild.” Even so, we’re still pulling for the Folio and the Cplus to become full-fledged products. We’re just not holding our collective breath.
Get all the news from today’s Lenovo and Motorola event right here!
Apple Rumored to Be Debuting iMessage for Android at WWDC
Apple is planning to announce an iMessage app for Android users at WWDC, according to a report from MacDailyNews citing sources “familiar with the company’s thinking.”
Apple will announce that iMessage encrypted text messaging is coming to Android users at WWDC next Monday at WWDC 2016, according to a source familiar with the company’s thinking. […]
Apple is increasingly focused on services which means opening up certain avenues beyond its own iOS and OS X platforms, the source says. The company release Apple Music for Android last November.
Google recently announced a new messaging app called “Allo,” which will be available on both Android and iOS devices. Allo integrates with a user’s phone number and includes features like a built-in Google assistant that offers up proactive suggestions, resizable message bubbles, emoji, stickers, smart replies, mini games, an Incognito mode with end-to-end encryption, and more.
With Google set to release a chat app on iOS, bringing iMessage to Android could potentially be Apple’s response. Apple has previously released three apps on Android, including Apple Music, Move to iOS for transitioning from an Android device to an iPhone, and Beats Pill*, for controlling the Beats Pill speaker. Apple CEO Tim Cook has said Apple Music is Apple’s way of testing the water ahead of bringing additional Apple services to other platforms.
The simplicity, convenience, and security of iMessage is one of the major perks of the iPhone, however, so it is unclear if Apple would want to expand such a key feature beyond its own devices.
MacDailyNews doesn’t have a solid track record when it comes to accurately predicting Apple’s plans, so today’s report should be viewed with some skepticism. The site’s source also suggests “plans are constantly in flux” ahead of keynotes so the release could be delayed, but iMessage is “definitely” coming to Android in 2016.
Related Roundup: WWDC 2016
Tags: macdailynews.com, Android, iMessage
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Concept Imagines What a Dynamic OLED Touch Panel Could Look Like on a MacBook Pro
Following rumors suggesting the next-generation MacBook Pro will feature an OLED touch panel that replaces the function keys, designer Martin Hajek has created some renderings imagining what such a MacBook Pro might look like.
Hajek’s design incorporates some recent information indicating the touch panel on the MacBook Pro could be contextual, with icons and imagery that changes based on the app that’s in use. Hajek imagines music controls when Spotify is open, which morph into a download monitor when using Transmission.
Also included in the images is an example of Siri on the Mac, with the colorful Siri waveform depicted on the touch panel. Siri for Mac is rumored to be one of the main features coming in OS X 10.12, set to debut on Monday. Not pictured is a Touch ID button, a feature also expected to be included on or alongside the panel.
In addition to an OLED touch panel, Apple’s next-generation MacBook Pro, which will come in 13 and 15-inch sizes, is expected to be thinner, incorporating metal injection mold-made hinges, thin speakers at the sides of the machine, and USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support.
As has been seen in a leaked chassis image, the OLED panel will be located at the top of the keyboard, where the function keys would normally be positioned. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said the upcoming MacBook Pro will feature “the most significant upgrade ever undertaken by Apple.”
We don’t yet know when the new MacBook Pro will launch, but Kuo has said he expects it to debut in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Make sure to check out Hajek’s website for the full selection of concept images.
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Tag: Concepts
Buyer’s Guide: Retina MacBook Pro (Don’t Buy)
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